Be mine, bestie! Celebrate the (real) love of your life this Valentine's Day

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Feb. 12, 2016, 7:41 PM GMT / Source: TODAY Contributor

By Gina Vivinetto

Each year, more and more people hijack Valentine's Day from the strictly-for-romance crowd to celebrate with the real loves of their lives — their best friends.

Some, like roommates KeriLynn Engel and Andréa Marseglia, are celebrating Cupid’s holiday with a group of besties.

KeriLynn Engel, left, and Andréa Marseglia.Courtesy KeriLynn Engel

Engel, a freelance writer, and Marseglia, a teacher’s assistant, will host a pizza party in their New Britain, Connecticut, apartment for themselves and their single pals — a mix of men and women in their 20s and 30s.

It’s a big switch for Engel, who usually ignores Valentine's Day. “I feel like our culture places way too much emphasis on romantic love,” says Engel. “I've been single for years, and I believe you can live a fulfilled life without a romantic partner. Radical, I know!”

Engel says she's happy to redefine what the holiday is about. “I think it'll be nice to celebrate friendship instead. Friends and family are just as important as romantic love."

And it's one she sees often in young people. Studies show millennials — those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s — are less interested in marriage than previous generations. They're also more likely to socialize — and date! — communally.

Love yourself first

Another person worth honoring? Yourself, says Christine Arylo, author of "Madly In Love With Me: The Daring Adventure of Becoming Your Own Best Friend."

Arylo, who lives in the San Francisco Bay area, is the founder of the international self-love movement and advocates the idea that women should be their own best friends. "The more women love themselves, the happier this whole world will be," says Arylo.

In fact, the whole idea is to build a foundation of love within yourself so you can then give love to the world, says Arylo, who's happily married.

The self-love movement's annual holiday is Feb 13th —the day before Valentine's Day. Devotees around the world participate in "love circles" and take to social media with the hashtag #ChooseSelfLove.

And on Valentine's Day? Spread your love around, says Arylo. She's been known to hand out flowers to strangers just to see them smile.

Our furry Valentines

For others, their Valentine BFF comes in furry form. That's the case for Rhonda Kitchens, a librarian and artist who lives in the beach town of Nokomis, Florida.

On Sunday, Kitchens plans to spend time painting in a live art show, then head home to feed her four rabbits fresh veggies before she and her 10-year-old pug Sadie stroll to a neighborhood tiki bar for a special dinner.